Can ribbon severing device



June ,.1957 A. ROGERS 2,795,351

CAN RIBBON SEVERING DEVICE Filed Dec; 4, 1953 nww IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent F CAN RIBBON SEVERING DEVICE Alfred Rogers, Phoenix, Application December 4, 1953, Serial No. 396,186

1 Claim. (Cl. 220-52) This invention relates to a can ribbon severing device.

An object of the present invention is to provide a can ribbon severing device for severing a ribbon connected by scored lines to a closed can which, when in use, maintains itself automatically in proper operating position with respect to the ribbon and the can.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a can ribbon severing device which winds the ribbon in a neat compact roll while removing it from the can.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a can ribbon severing device which is simple, sturdy and inexpensive of construction and which is easy and effective to use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the following description considered in conjunction with the attached drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the can ribbon severing device of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the device of the present invention on an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the device as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the device of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a can upon which the device of the present invention is in use.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of another modified form of the device of the present invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, numeral 1 designates generally a guide member having an aperture 2 extending therethrough, adapted to be placed against the side of a closed can 3, Figure 5. The guide member 1 is shown in the drawings in the form of a frame having substantially parallel, spaced apart sides 5. In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5, as well as in the form shown in Figure 6, the sides 5 are rigidly connected at their complemental ends by means of an end 6. In the form of the invention shown in Figure 4, the sides 5 are connected at one only of their complemental ends by an end 6.

A post 7 extends across the aperture 2 between the sides 5 and is journaled in the guide member 1 at 8 for rotary movement. The portion of the post which extends across the aperture is provided with a closed slot 9 of appropriate size to receive the free end of the ribbon 4 connecting the complemental portions of a closed can. The portion of the post 7 in which the slot 9 is formed is flattened and widened as shown at 11. In the form of the invention shown in Figure 6, the sides 5 are bent away from each other at the points 8 to afford greater clearance for the flattened portion 11. One end of the post 7 projects beyond and is spaced from the guide member 1 and has a handle 10 thereon for effecting the rotary movement of the post 7.

As will be noted, the frame defining the guide member 1 is of elongated, rectangular formation, with the sides Sand ends 6 all being coplanar (Figures 2 and 3). The frame is formed, as will be readily apparent from the 2,795,351 Patented June 11, 1957 ice , drawing, from wire material, and medially between the portion 12 diverge in a direction away from said plane of the frame relative to the corresponding part 13 of the other crimped portion. At their outer ends, the connecting parts 13 of each crimped portion merge into the opposite ends of an annular bearing element 14 of the crimped portion, the bearing elements of the respective crimped portions lying in planes normal to the plane of the frame and, due to the oblique disposition of their associated connecting parts 13 relative to the plane of the frame, a distance apart greater than the distance between the respective sides 5 of the frame. This construction produces the desirable result of spacing the post and its flattened portion 11 laterally from the guide member so as to permit a coil of substantial diameter to be wound upon the flattened portion 11 while the guide member remains in closely spaced relation to the side wall of the container. At the same time, the construction, due to the greater spacing of the bearing elements 14 from one another as compared to the spacing between the sides 5 of the frame, permits elongation of the flattened portion 11 to an extent suflicient to permit forming of its slot to a length equal to the distance between the side members 5.

When the device is to be used it is placed against the side of a closed can adjacent the scored ribbon, in operative position with the post 7 parallel to the side of the can 3 and the handle 10 projecting clear of the adjacent end of the can. The free end of the ribbon 4 is then engaged in the slot 9 and the handle 10 is turned to rotate the post 7. The rotation of the post 7 winds the ribbon 4 upon the post, severing the ribbon from the can along the scored lines. As the ribbon winds from the post it passes between the sides 5 which position the successive layers of the ribbon squarely upon the earlier layers, building up a fiat roll between the sides 5 substantially perpendicular to the post 7 and thus holding the post constantly in the operative position. Any tendency of the post to vary from the parallel to the side of the can and thus wind the ribbon spirally toward one or the other end of the post is thus counteracted.

What is claimed is:

A device for severing a scored ribbon from a closed container while winding said ribbon into a coil having flat, opposed surfaces, comprising a single length of wire material bent to include a guide member in the form of an elongated, rectangular frame having sides adapted to extend in close proximity to said surfaces of the coil, and crimped portions integrally formed upon said sides medially between the opposite ends of the guides, each of said crimped portions including a pair of short connecting parts projecting laterally out of said plane in longitudinally contacting relation along lines oblique to said plane, the connecting parts of one crimped portion diverging in a direction away from said plane from the connecting parts of the other crimped portion, each side of the frame comprising straight, longitudinally aligned'portions extending between the ends of the frame and the crimped portion formed on said side, the connecting parts of each crimped portion being formed as lateral extensions of the respective straight portions of the side on which said crimped portion is formed, each crimped portion further including an annular bearing element lying in a plane normal to the plane of the frame and having portion responsive to rotation of the post within the hear ing elements, said flattened portion being elongated toan extent effective to form the same to a length greater than the distance between said sides, and having a width greater than the inner diameters of the bearing elements to form ahutments at the ends of the flattened portion engaging the bearing elements to hold the post against-axial movement during rotation of the post.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Norton June 2, 1874 Rath Apr. 4, 1905 Holcomb Oct. 3, 1916 Eriksson July 14, 1925 Epstein May 30, 1933 Alvarez Nov. 21, 1939 Lyle Aug. 25, 1953 Imnan Nov. 24, 1953 Dzialdowski June 8, 1954 

